Quote Originally Posted by Go Lehigh TU owl View Post
Villanova is is the program with the most pedigree left in the CAA as its presently constructed. They're the only program left in the CAA with a 1-AA/FCS National Championship. Towson of all programs is the only one left with a title game appearance. How many people would know that nugget? Villanova is an institution that has captured tremendous wealth over the last quarter century which has translated into great institutional wide success and additional leverage in decision making practices (I'd pay to be in a room with leaders from Fordham, HC, Georgetown and Villanova but then again I'm weird). As a Temple alum it pains me to say it but Villanova's rise is tangible. Temple has fared very well academically and campus infrastructure wise but just about everything else has been a disaster. While fans on here like to mock 'Nova's attendance and stadium neither are terrible. Basketball simply skews perception of what Wildcat football should be on a superficial level. 2009 National Champs, 3 Payton Winners, numerous notable NFL players, ranked #1 several times speaks for itself.
Villanova's rapid rise up the reputational ladder has been matched only by Southern California, who is stride for stride with UCLA at the edge of the Top 25.

Villanova and Temple have different audience but Villanova has clearly left St. Joseph's and LaSalle, two universities with some real struggles of late, in its wake.